Bookrest



April 1952 Y F. DE COYSTE 2,592,252

BOOKREST Filed Dec. 22, 1950 2a 26\'J a0 7 /nvenf0r 34 Fred/M d6 C0576 Affomeys' Patented Apr. 8, 1952 BOOKREST Fredrikdc Coste, New Tor-k, N. Y. Application December 22, 1950, Serial No. 202.229

This invention relates to a book-rest, the genera-1 object of the invention being to provide a 1 book-rest which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and capable of being folded-up so that it may be conveniently carried by the user.

As will be apparent from the drawing and the following description, the book-rest comprises three parts, preferably of bent aluminum wire or other light material, which cooperate with-one another. These three parts of the book-rest may be separately fabricated and easily assembled.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustratedin the drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective-view of the book-rest in its bookholding position; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the book-rest in its folded condition; and Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the book-rest in its folded condition.

As will be apparent from the drawing, the book-rest comprises three parts, namely, a base member A, a book-back-en aging member B, and a book-supporting member 0, each of stout wire which has been bent into the forms illustrated. The base member A has a rear portion 6 from which extend side portions 8 and H) which terminate respectively in eyes l2 and M. The bookback-engaging member B has a top portion I6 from which extend two side portions l8 and 22 which terminate respectively in eyes 22 and-2d. The eyes l2 and 22 and the eyes I4 and 24 are located adjacent one another in two pairs. The book-supporting member C is provided with offset ends 26 and28 which extend respectively through the pairs of eyes I2 and 22 and the pairs of eyes 14 and 24. These offset ends 26 and 28 serve as pintles upon which the base member A and the book-back-engaging member B may be rotated. Said book-supporting member has forwardlyexte'nding looped portions 30 and 32 which serve as book-edge-engaging members and are connected by a bridge portion 34 extending (when the book-rest is in its book-supporting position as shown in Fig. 1) across the tops of the side portions 8 and i0 01 the base member A, and behind the side portions 88 and of the bookback-enga'ging member B. Thus the book-backengaging member B and the book-supporting member 0 are supported upon the base member A so as to provide for the support of an open book, the lower edge of which rests upon the book-edge-engaging portions and 32 of the book-supporting member 0, and the back of which book leans against the portions [6, I8 and 20 of the book-back-engaging member B.

4 Claims. (CI. 4557) A As indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the manner in which the parts cooperate permits some variation in the angles to the horizontal assumed by the book-back-engaging member B and by the forwardly-extending portions 30 and 32 of the book-supporting member 0. This permits the satisfactory support of books of diiferent weights, and makes certain that the pressure of a heavy book' upon the forwardly-extending portions 30 and 32 will tilt the book-engaging members B and C backwardly (rather than forwardly) thereby properly supporting the book. During this tilting of the book-engaging'memhers B and C backwardly; the looped portions 30 and 32 acting as springs are flexed slightly, thereby making the book-rest self-regulating with'reference to the angle at which 'a lighter or heavier book is supported; Viewed from the side. the angle between the side portions l8 and 20 and the upper parts of the looped portions 30 and 32 is at all times slightly-less than a right angle, with the result that the lower edges of the book pages which are exposed are frictionally engaged by the looped portions 3|] and 32 thereby retaining the book in its open position.

The offsets, near the middle of the side portions 8 and ill of the base member A and near themiddle of the side portions [8 and 20 of the book-back-engaging member B, permit the nesting of the three parts of the device in the manner illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 from which it will be apparent that the book-edge-engaging portions 30 and 32 are accommodated within approximately the maximum widths of the base A and book-back-engaging portion B when the book-rest is in, its folded up condition. Moreover, the offsets just mentioned extend the overall width of the base member A and of the bookback-engaging member B, thereby increasin the stability of the book-rest and increasing the support of the back of a book thereon, when the device is in use on a table or desk.

As will be apparent from Figs. 2 and 3, the parts of the book-rest may be folded together so that they make a thin compact assembly which may be conveniently carried by the user.

It is of course to be understood that the shape, size and construction of the book-rest illustrated and described may be modified without departing from the invention as defined in the claims hereto appended.

What is claimed is:

1. A book-rest comprising a base member having a rear portion from which extends two side portions each terminating in an eye, a book-backengaging member having a top portion from which extend two side portions each also terminating in an eye, said eyes being located ad-. jacent one another in two pairs, and a booksupporting member having two pintles which extend respectively through a pair of said eyes and having forwardly-extending book-edge-engaging portions connected by a bridge portion extending across the tops of the side portions of said base member and behind the side portions of said book-back-engaging member.-

2. A book-rest comprising a base member of bent wire having a rear portionfrom which extends two side portions each terminating in an eye, a book-back-engaging member of bent wire having a top portion from which extend two side portions each also terminating :in an eye. said v eyes being located adjacent one another in two pairs, and a book-supporting member of bent wire having two pintles which extend'respectively through a pair of said eyes and having forwardlyextending book-edge-engaging portions connected by a bridge portion extending across the tops of the side portions of said base member and behind the side portions of said book-back-engaging member.

3. A book-rest comprising a base member of bent wire having a rear portion from which extends two side portions each terminating in an eye, a book-back-engaging member of bent wire having a top portion from which extend two side portions each also terminating in an-eye, said eyes being located adjacent one another in two pairs, and a book-supporting member of bent wire the ends of which are offset and form pintles extend- 'ing respectively through a pair of said eyes, said book-supporting member having looped bookedge engaging portions forwardly extending :from

4 said pintles and connected by a bridge portion extending across the tops of the side portions of said base member and behind the side portions of said book-back-engaging member.

4. A book-rest comprising a base member of bent wire having a rear portion from which extends two side portions each terminating in an eye, a book-back-engaging member of bent wire having a top portion from which extend two side portions each also terminating in an eye, said eyes being located adjacent one another in two pairs, and a book-supporting member of bent wire having two pintles which extend respectively through a pair of said eyes and having forwardly-extending book-edge-engaging portions connected by a bridge portion extending across the tops of the side portions of said base member and behind the side portions of said bookback-engaging member, the said side portions of both the base member and the book-back-engaging member being ofiset thereby accommodatmg the said book-edge-engaging portions within approximately the maximum widths of the base and the book-back-engaging members when the book-rest is in its foldedup condition.

FREDRIK DE COSTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,197,351 Dalglish Sept. 5, 1916 1,670,891 Keese May 22. 1928 1,871,294 Anderson Aug. 9, 1932 2,250,808 Lynch July 29, 1911 

